Border Police Control

About Kosovo*

The Republic of Kosovo lies in the center of the Balkan Peninsula, and has an area of 10,908 km². It is bordered by Macedonia to the south, Albania to the southwest, Serbia to the northeast, and Montenegro to the northwest. Its geographic location in the center of the Balkans gives the Republic of Kosovo a special geostrategic and economic importance, as it is an important crossing point for the countries in the Region and a significant link between Central and Southern Europe and the Adriatic Sea and the Black Sea.

Location: The Republic of Kosovo lies in the center of the Balkans, and is bordered by Macedonia to the south, Albania to the west and southwest, Serbia to the northeast, and Montenegro to the northwest.

Territory:Total area of 10,908 km².53% plains which are suitable for crop farming and 39% mountains which are suitable for animal farming and tourism.

Climate: Climate in Kosovo is continental, with hot summers and cold winters.

Population: 2,207,896 (estimate)

Ethnic Structure: Its population is composed of about 92% Albanians, 5.3% Serbs, and 2.7% other ethnic groups (Turks, Roma, Ashkali Egyptians).With 70% of its population under the age of 35, Kosovo is considered to have the youngest population in Europe.

Religion:About 90% Muslim, 10% Catholic and Orthodox Christian.

Government priority policies: The main goal of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo is to build democratic institutions committed to an economically stable Kosovo and a multiethnic society on its path towards European Integration, while meeting the highest standards of accountability and transparency. To that end, the Government of the Republic of Kosovo pursues the following priorities: economic growth; good governance and rule of law and poverty reduction and social stability. The Government aims at those priorities being affordable and fiscally sustainable. Those priorities make up the agenda of the Government. The setting of the priority policies is proof of the Government’s strong commitment and serious attitude to immediately starting addressing the most priority and challenging issues of economic and social development of Kosovo.

In the area of external affairs and international relations and cooperation, the Government of Kosovo is going to be committed to expediting the process of international recognition of the independent and sovereign State of Kosovo, and achieving full membership of the country in major international political, economic and financial organizations and institutions.It should be noted that the Republic of Kosovo has already been recognized internationally by 75 countries, and has become a full member of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.